Self-aligning bearing structure



Jan. 17, 1928 1,656,508

c. CLAUS SELF ALIGNIfiiG BEARING STRUCTURE Filed May 19. 1926 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 17,1928.

UNITED STATES .PATVEN T OFFICE.

-CARL OLAUS, OF PLAINFIELID, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR -TO BOUND; BROOK OIL-LESS BEARING COMPANY, OF BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. 1 a

I Application filed May 19,

'10 some structures, and may likewise be easily taken apart for repairsofireplacement of any P y .1

There are other features of the .lnventlon 7 which will appear hereinafter from the more,

detailed description given in connection with the drawings.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein";

Fig. l, is a sectional view of one of thetwo annular parts forming the housing, the

plane of the section containing the axis of the annulus. I

a type of my invention Fig. 2, is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 1, of the other one or mate of the annu lar housing members.

Fig.3), is a view of a section of-the two annular parts when assembled after the hear: ing ring-shaped member has been seated in one'of said parts, the'section bein taken on a plane containing the axis of t structure.

Fig. 4, is a similar view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, but. with a slight modifi cation. I

Fig. 5, shows an elevation of the bearingmember detached from the housing shown 1n F gi 1 Fig. 6, shows the bearing structure mounted in a supporting frame or hanger, with-a shaft journaled in the bearing-member and the structure heldinplace by a suitablere-v tainingring, part of the view being shown in vertical central section and parts, in elevation. Y Referringto the-drawings l is a bearingbore and a rounded exterior surface 2. The convexity of the surface .Z isesherioaI the curvature of which is struckfr n the axis of the member 1. The housing for the bearing-member comprises two parts or annular channel members 3 and 4, one being an inner part and the other an outer part2 The inner part 3, is substantially U-shaped in cross sec mouths of the channels e bearing with a tight fit outwardly from eaclig'other and causing them member of tubular form, with a cylindrical SELF-ALIGNING BEARING srnucrunn,

192s. SerialNo. 110,119.

the curvature ofthe exterior 2, of the bearing-member and provides'half of the'seat for the same. The outer part 4, is substantially L-shaped in cross-section. with its interior provided WHEEL" a curved surface'6,likewise conforming to the surface 2, of the bearingmember and forming the. other half of the seat forsaid member. 'These two channel or hollow parts are placed together with the or troughs facing each other so as to form a closed interior hollow place or chamber'and the outer part 4, is made slightly deeper than the inner part 3, and the outer limb of part 4, is extended at 7, a distance equaltothe width of part 3, so that such extended limb overlaps the outer limb of part 3 ,fwhich telescopes therewith, as shown in the drawings. These parts fit snugly within each other so that when sprung together they will retain their telescoped relation and keep the ho'usingclosed around thegbearing-membe'r' 1, which is put in. place in the housing-seat b first being inserted in one of the parts an then'bringing the other partup'to it and closing them on eachother.

t The extended portion 7, of the outer housing section 4, covers-the exterior peripheral surface of the inner section 3, and encases the housing so as to-makea unit. While the two sections-'4and-ji3, j are sprung together t liability of moving t separate, nevertheless the precaution may .be taken of liaving'la, small fin. 8, formed the extended rim 7 of around the mouth-of section 4,,which finfmaybe bent inwardly when the two ections; are put together, in order to holdi'the section-.13, in place.

The housing sections 3 and 4, may be stamped from steel-or other suitable metal,

in finishedform and to exact size ready to be assembled with the bearing-member in its seat. These hollow members in addition to being made ata low cost, also provide a desirablelightness inweight of the housing.

In the modification shown in Fi s4 and 5, the bearing-member 1, is held against rotation on its axis in its seat by means of a lug and slot arranged between it and the housing The lug 9, on the exterior of the bearing-member, extends into the slot 10, in the interior of the housing section or part 4, to form the locking means, as shown in said Figs. 4 and 5.

The bearing-member 1, is formed from compressed powdered materials, such as graphite, copper, lead and tin, or copper, tin and zinc, in suitable proportions, which after formation into a consolidated body is heat treated and then sized.

Inmaking the self-lubricating bearingmember which may be soaked in lubricating oil to fill its pores, the apparatus disclosed by me in my pending application for patent filed October 26, 1923, Serial No. 671,032, may be used, and the product therefrom will be found applicable to the present invention.

In Figure 6, I show the completed bearing structure as mounted in operative position in a frame or hanger 11, by being driven in the recess 12, formed in such frame, so that it is securely held therein, a shaft 13 being placed in same.

,1. In a' self-aligning bearing structure, 9.

tubular bearing-member in the bore of which a shaft may be mounted and having the exterior thereof spherically curved about the center of the bearing structure whereby the bearing-member may rock in its seat on a transverse axis, a housing comprising a pair of angular pressed metal trough-shaped members juxtaposed with the mouths of their troughs opening into each other and with the inner walls of the troughs arranged with their free edges in abutting relation to form a seat for said bearing-member, the outer faces of said abutting walls being spherically curved about the center of the bearing structure to conform to the engaging exterior surface of said bearing-member, and the outer walls of said housing members being constructed and arranged to telescope with each other.

2. In a self-aligning bearing structure, an annular bearing-member having a cylindrical bore and a spherically convex periphery, and a housing for said bearing-member comprising a pair of sheet-metal rings U- shaped in cross-section with the inner limb of each-formed arcuate so as to form together a spherically concave seat for the convex periphery of said bearing-member, the ends of said inner limbs being placed in abutting relation, the outer limbs arranged to telescope.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL GLAUS. 

